h straightway brought the guard
running to the tower.

"But my narrative must hasten. With the first morning light a messenger,
his mission announced by the blare of trumpets, went forth from the
citadel, daring Prince Hasan to single combat with a champion fighting
on behalf of Mirza Shah. There came back, as we expected, an exultant
acceptance of the challenge.

"The sun had mounted only spear-high when Gholab Khan, armed with lance
and sword, rode out through the gates of the citadel. For his reception
the whole host of our enemies had been drawn up, and in the middle of
the curved line was the massed troop of some forty elephants, their
howdahs crowded with spectators eager to witness the joust at arms.

"From my observation tower Mirza Shah and I watched the scene. Although
my mind was clouded with all manner of uncertainties, yet in my heart
was a faint flutter of hope. Would this mountain fighter break the spell
of the stars, and actually kill Prince Hasan, before the latter could
accomplish the portended crime of dealing death to his father? I was
torn by distracted arguments; at one moment I believed firmly as ever in
the stars, at the next my trust was in the lance of the burly freebooter
I had brought down with me from the mountains.

"With bated breath I watched the combat--first the riding at full tilt;
the thud of the galloping horses we could hear at this distance. But
both lances were successfully parried, and a moment later the combatants
had leaped with one impulse from horseback, and were rushing upon each
other with swords. We saw the mirror-like flash of the blades in the
morning sun.

"Then next I beheld one figure go down, and, while I was yet wondering
which of the twain had fallen, a mighty shout of triumph from the
beleaguering army told me, alas! that it was our champion who had been
worsted. And now a dissevered head raised high on sword-point by Prince
Hasan told the bloody tale with final certainty. Gholab Khan was not
only down but dead. At this display of the gruesome trophy of victory
there were further frantic yells of delight from the assembled hosts
across the valley. The sack of our citadel and town seemed now assured
to them.

"I just glanced at Mirza Shah. To my surprise his face wore a look of
perfect calm, and, on meeting my eyes, there came a gleam of triumph
into his.

"'The stars were right,' he exclaimed, in a low, tense voice. 'Praise be
to Allah! All is well. A bas